This season, HBO’s “Hard Knocks” TV series will cover the division most recognized for its intense rivalries and standout quarterbacks. This marks the first time an entire division has been covered by the Emmy Award-winning series. The four clubs that make up the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens, all had winning records at the end of the previous campaign.
AFC North Quarterbacks
The North has a history of close, competitive games and is home to quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Russell Wilson, and Deshaun Watson, who were traded from the Denver Broncos to Pittsburgh in the offseason. Each team’s quarterback has questions surrounding them heading into the start of next season.
The question surrounding Jackson is can he put it all together for his team to finally reach another Super Bowl. Burrow’s health is beginning to come to the forefront plus his receiver room. Watson’s questions are can he be the quarterback he was in Houston or even 80 percent of that guy? Finally, Wilson is what this quarterback controversy will look like in Pittsburgh.
AFC North Division
Since the Western Division in 1935, the AFC North is the first division to have every team finish with a winning record. This happened last season. With a combined record of 43-25, the Ravens, Steelers, Browns, and Bengals had the most victory percentage (.632) of any division in 2023. Last year, no other division amassed a total of more than 35 victories.
“We don’t think we know this is the best division in football,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said in a statement. “I understand why it’s an attractive pick for ‘Hard Knocks’ and it’s an honor to be part of a division that people think so highly of. We have an exciting team with a lot of really talented players and good team guys. They are players that the league is excited about, so this exposure is a positive.”
AFC North Appeal
Jackson recently won his second MVP award, but he was unable to make it to his first Super Bowl. Prior to having wrist surgery last season, Burrow only appeared in 10 games. With Justin Fields trailing him, Wilson hopes to resurrect his career as Watson begins a crucial third season in Cleveland.
The first team to appear on the first season of “Hard Knocks” in 2001 was the Ravens. The training camps of the Bengals were highlighted in 2009 and 2013, and the Browns in 2018.
The popular program that brings viewers inside the locker room, huddle, and inner workings of NFL teams will feature the Steelers for the first time.
HardKnocks Objections
On “The Adam Jones Podcast” earlier this month, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he does not watch “Hard Knocks.” “Everything’s put on,” Harbaugh said. “You got to put a microphone and a camera in your face, people aren’t the same. If they want to bring ‘Hard Knocks’ in here, it wouldn’t bother me one bit, just because I know what I’d tell our guys is, ‘All right, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to just be us. We’ll say what we say. We are going to do what we do. We’re going to handle it the way we handle it because we’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.'”
In addition, Harbaugh stressed that the Ravens would have “final editing power” over the presentation and that his team would not “put on a show” for anyone.
The league’s offseason, training camp, regular season, and postseason are now all highlighted in the series. The Chicago Bears, who selected first overall in this year’s draft, will be highlighted in training camp as they attempt to break in rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Then the New York Giants offseason will be featured.
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